Connecticut western news., 1887-11-23
THE GREAT FALLS.
Some Tragic and Dramatic h.
 cidents at Niagara.
Suicides, Strange Accidents
 and Remarkable Escapes.

The number of suicides at Niagara Falls have been very large. On ono occasion man leaped from the bridge,
 192 feet into the current, and is SUD- posed to have died before reaching the water. For 50 feet he fell like a plummet. He then began to turn over and dropped apparently lifeless on the water. A woman who committed sui eide tested the current by throwing in her parasol before gathering her skirts together for the plunge. In another
 Case a man calmly undressed and went into the flood, strongly and deliberately swimming to the giddy verge. A brave
 swimmer tried to rescue him, but the man who sought death sped onwards to it with rapidity on seeing he was fol- lowed. He was soon where it was not necessary for him to put forth another stroke. Tho torrent caught him, and he was at once be- yond help. On one occasion there was a double suicide, the couple being mid
 dle-aged man and woman. Strange acci- dents are also reported. A lady stopped to pluck flower on the brink of the Table Rock and was picked up dead from the rocks below. Another lady stopped for cup of water, lost her balance and was out of reach and over the falls almost before her amazed hus- band knew what had happened. In 1875 very strange and foolish accident oc- cured. An engaged couple went behind the Falls, into the Gave of the Winds without a guide. The lady actually sought to bathe in pool which even the guides never visited. Her lover lost his life in endeavoring to save hers. One very pathetic and dramatic incident is recorded. A young man caught up a charming child, who was watching the tumbling waves. ''Now, Lizzie,"
 lie playfully said, 'T am going to throw you into the water," and he swung her backwards and for wards. The child screamed, struggled and slipped from his hands. He gazed after her, and, realizing what he had done, leaped into the torrent. Rescue, of course, was hopeless, and he perished. Remarkable escapes have now and again been recorded. One was that of a murderer Tho sheriff was close behind hlm, the river in front, and only the wires of the old bridge at Lewiston to help him across. Hand over hand he began the passage. His hands quickly blistered, and then they bled. Again and again be rested his arms by hanging by his legs. At length he reached the opposite bank, and fay panting full an hour before resuming his flight. On one occasion a painter was at work on Second Sisters Island, when he fell into the water. He was carried towards the falls, and when only forty feet from them caught on rock. After a time of terrible an xiety he was saved by ropes manipulated from the shore. A boatman was being hurried along towards the rapids, when he threw out little anchor he had with him. It seemed like playing for his life with grim death as he heard the anchor bump continually against the rocks without grounding. At length his fearful anxiety was relieved by its catching grip, but all night through the boatman was tossed about while he held the anchor rope. When morning dawned he was saved by those on shore.